I think the one of the unique and coolest features that Megaman brought to the gaming world when it hit the scene was the ability to exploit bosses weaknesses by stealing their own weapons and using them against Wily's creations. While many players prefer to stick with the Mega Buster as much as possible, the truly creative gamer will discover many tricks by experimenting with the powers you aquire throughout the game. Some of these weapons are really only useful against one or two bosses (ie: Top Spin), but others are ridiculously overpowered and really dominate the game. Here, are ten of those weapons who made Megaman's life a little easier.
Top 10 Most Useful Weapons
10. Needle Cannon (Megaman 3)
Needle Cannon only makes it to the number ten spot becaused its really just a short term machine gun version of your Mega Buster. Its not much more powerful, it only shoots straight, but it still comes in handy when you need to put out alot of firepower quickly. It also doesn't waste energy very fast so it rarely ever runs out.
Most Notable Use: Break Man, Megaman Clones
9. Fire Wave/Solar Blaze (Megaman 1/Megaman 10
These two make the list here because of their limited use in their respective games. But, they are only limited by the strategy presented to you as the gamer. At the time of Megaman 1, the idea of the weapons being used to get out of sticky situations probably wasn't thought of too much. The weapons were mainly designed for being weaknesses for the Robot Masters. Megaman 10 is a throwback to the strategy days of MM1. Having said all of that, let me explain these two powers. First off, they remind me alot of each other in that they are powerful fire weapons. But, they both serve the same purpose in their respected games. They put a hurting on the enemy, but also temporarily protect you. While Fire Wave actually has a short lived shield surround you, Solar Blaze fires out in both directions to clear enemies from surrounding you. For these reasons, they are only as necessary as you choose need them, but I guarentee that they will save your life on numerous occasions.
Most Notable Use: Other than as a boss weakness, really only enemies are closing in and you need a breather.
8. Flash Stopper (Megaman 4)
These are some of the more unique weapons that pop up from game to game. Flash Man's Time Stopper was a one-use weapon (unless you pause-switch) but it found itself useful nonetheless. Centaur Flash from MM6 was just too underpowered and wasted incredibly fast. It didn't really stop time and usually took multiple uses to kill even minor enemies. Gravity Hold is another weapon that falls into the "Flash catagory" and it truly was useful in MM5, however, Bright Man's Flash Stopper is just the best suited to it's own game which makes it the most useful. The first improvement was multiple use with a decent window of frozen time. But, everyone can agree that the great improvment over Time Stopper, was Flash Stopper's gift that allowed you to still fire your Mega Buster while time is stopped. This made those complicated and precision jump areas that Megaman games are notorious for, far easier.
Most Notable Use: Pharoah Man, Any precision jump area swarmed with enemies.
7. Jewel Satellite (Megaman 9)
I'm probably going to get some disagreements with this one. Not only WHERE it falls on the countdown, but WHY it even appears here. Well, lets really look at it. Of all the "shield weapons", many have one main drawback. Leaf Shield will fire in any direction and is large and powerful, but you can't move anywhere without firing it away. Star Crash solves that problem and allows you to move and release it at your own command, but it is severly underpowered. Don't even let me get started on that piece of shit Plant Barrier which allows no firing and kills Thomahawk man who is otherwise a tough character. I must say that the Native American side of my family cringes at the thought that this character is killed by a shield of fucking flowers. I don't feel like going into any detail about Junk Man's shield. Its definitely not bad, but its just not spectacular for the game. So we are left with the only two shields that are worth a damn. Skull Barrier and Jewel Satellite. I love Skull Barrier, but as far as use for the game it comes down to this. I actually use Jewel Satellite to save my ass, I really don't NEED Skull Barrier in MM4 that often. So that is why one of these weapons deserved to be here and its really a preference. I just have to say that MM9 was a harder game than MM4, therefore Jewel Satellite made the cut as a Useful Weapon.
Most Notable Use: anywhere you need respite from the onslaught of enemies
6. Crystal Eye (Megaman 5)
While this weapon seems pretty useless at first glance, we should take a closer look. This weapon has decent power and by allowing to split off into the smaller pieces, you may start to realize its uncanny ability to just find targets by dumb luck. Seriously, its what Gemini Laser (just a cool ass weapon) should have been. The crystals will find targets on the screen and it makes for some pretty entertaining and creative parts in the game where you really feel like a badass. One Crystal Eye can drop 4 enemies on the screen and that's just cool.
Most Notable Use: any tight spot filled with multiple enemies
5. Gyro Blade (Megaman 5)
Ok, another one from MM5. While some people think that this weapon is underpowered, its versatility far exceeds that drawback. How can you hate this weapon? It is only limited by your gamining ability. Precision and strategy are key to making this weapon go anywhere on screen you want it. Enemies literally cannot run from this weapon. So sure, maybe it takes 2 or three hits, but it will be two or three hits that will be on the enemy before you are even in range of their counter-attack. Its the Megaman version of a "smart" bomb.
Most Notable Use: Wily's Castle...its a life-saver
4. Pharoah Shot (Megaman 4)
I think this was just about everyone's favorite weapon from MM4. Its just fun to use. Its fast, its powerful, and you can even charge it up like a Mega Buster. But wait, there's something else it can do. While charged up, the ball of fire/energy hovers above you and can be used to protect you from enemies above. Now that's kick-ass. Plus, most experienced players are familiar with the charge glich (hehehe). This is where you can charge up the Pharoah Shot and, even if you are hit by an enemy, continue to hold onto the charge button so that little ball of energy will continue to kill enemies even though it has disappeared.
Most Notable Use: Doubles as a shield and a powerful projectile.
3. Shadow Blade (Megaman 3)
Okay, this weapon may be a watered-down version of another popular weapon, but this is still the dominant power-up in Megaman 3. It fires in five directions and wastes almost no energy. The projectile is big and powerfuly, but its real benefit comes from its boomerang ability. The blade comes out, and then it comes right back if it doesn't hit anything. This is very helpful (and strategic for advanced players) if you fire early and miss an enemy. The blade gives you break and will kill the enemy on the return trip.
Most Notable Use: anywhere you need a certain degree of control with your shots
2. Elec Thunder (Megaman 1)
The quintessential bad-ass weapon of Megaman 1. It is extremely powerful and covers a good portion of the screen. There's not much else to say about it that players don't already know. Its just strong as hell and shoots in three different directions at once. The only other thing I will touch on is the Yellow Devil glich for those who don't already know. When you get to the Yellow Devil in Wily's castle, swith to Elec Thunder and fire at his eye. After that, continue to pause and un-pause and watch the electric raping unfold.
Most Notable Use: clear out a crowded room, Yellow Devil
1. Metal Blade (Megaman 2)
Like anyone who has ever played more than one Megaman didn't see this coming. This weapon is just so ridiculous. Its stronger than your Mega Buster, it fires in all eight directions and it wastes a microscopic amount of energy when you fire it. You have to actively try and waste all of Metal Blade and even then its damn frustrating (ok yea I tried, I just wanted to see if I could). Even with all of those benefits, there's more: THREE Robot Masters have a significant weakness to Metal Blade...Including Metal Man himself! That is hilarious. Basically I'm telling most of you things you already know so I'll sum it up and end this countdown. When you get Metal Blade (which is your first mission in the game), you switch to Metal Blade and really don't have to use your Mega Buster for the remainder of the game. Its that bad-ass
Most Notable Use: Megaman 2
Well that's it. Next I will be posting a small blog on some of the weapons that didn't make this list and why. Look foward to the next Top 10 List that will be posted tomorrow.
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